If a university (or corporation) built the new mechanical system, it could be verified and taken apart by all interested parties. Ignore conspiracy theory and look at the facts, people. Levers work in real life. Another big advantage is that they are so cheap compared to new computers.
There is one question that interests me about electronic voting systems. How many years are they designed to last? These things tend to be stored in basements and the like during the off season where there is high humidity and poor HVAC control.
In EMT training I was taught how to apply one of these hideous travesties (again, I'm talking from a streets perspective, not a combat one). It requires wrapping a dressing around the limb several times and inserting something hard into it like a pen. You then start twisting and twisting until blood flow ceases. This is not an instant process, so I doubt that the new device is instant.
DISCLAIMER: Nothing in this post is designed to constitute medical advice, as the author is not a physician. If faced with a life or limb trauma situation, please consult your doctor before begining tourniquet treatment.
This requires large scale corruption by multiple local electoral officials. If they are corrupt then the whole system fails. Having been a poll watcher, I have had to instill some trust in those operating the controls. If everyone is doing their job, they will not allow one person to set the machine and they also should notice stickers.
Do you have any links of evidence of this happening recently? I honestly think that this process is too high risk for most politicians, even the most corrupt. The only time I could imagine this happening is in local dog catcher elections where no one pays any attention to begin with.
From TFA I get the feeling that Microsoft agrees with you. They are trying to make alternatives to beige boxes that do not look like crap. It will be interesting to see where this goes.
Then build more! I bet that if a senior engineering class at Purdue (not even MIT) put their minds to the task they could build a mechanical voting machine that would not create the same level of controversy as Diebold's machines. There are not enough parts because people are not building them. Compared to the cost of computerization, building spare levers and new machines is dirt cheap.
Instead of rebuilding the wheel, why not use mechanical systems? Really, no one has been able to come up with any valid reasons why levers should not be used! The areas that are installing these computerized systems are rarely those that use levers. Why? Because levers just plain work. I think there is a benefit to using a system that can be understood with an associates in engineering rather than requiring that "the redesign process begins again" every single time there is an error.
Again I tell you, levers work the best. Mechanical voting machines are more efficient than human read paper ballots, more accountable than computers, never ever have hanging chads, and have been successfully used for almost 90 years!
Again I say to the teeming masses of Slashdot: lever machines are the answer! They have been proven for almost 90 years! I know that many of us/.ers want a computer chip of some kind running Linux in absolutely everything, we need to learn that electronic is not always better.
Winner or not, I'm just going to wait until prices fall. Once I can get an HD-DVD player as cheaply as I can get a DVD player today ($30 at Sam's Club) I do not plan to make the change. Since I don't know what I'm missing, I am still happy with basic cable and a several year old TV.
But Magic (as TFA talks about) is different. You actually get to use your cards on a regular basis. That is the key difference between this type of collection and others.
You bring up a good point. As a college student without a TV in his dorm, the vast majority of my DVD watching is on good 'ole lappy. Even if my computer had the required drive, would I notice a difference?
Yes, but again, do I need that? I enjoy my older 32" Sony with two tuner PIP. I would rather spend my money actually going to the events (sports, concerts, etc.) than buying a nicer TV on which to watch them. I know that things like Discovery HD offer worlds that I will never be able to experience firsthand, but I am still happy with my arrangement.
Actually the advirtising and review departments are entirely seperate in magazines. A few years back, Maximum PC declared an Iomega product the "wrost of the year" while there was also a full page color ad for that product in that issue. Even when I disagree with the rating, magazines justify their rankings and apply impartial standards when possible.
"Most of modern trauma medicine [...] was developed by, GUESS WHAT - THE MILITARY."
You are largely correct. The Department of Transportation protocols for EMTs were formed after the success of MASH units and field medics in the Korean War. As far as car accidents are concernec, I have worse news for the elite "I hate the military" types: most vehicle extrication practices come from NASCAR.
"An no, I don't want to see what 'micro' PC's might fit. Really.
"
You know that I'm fighting the urge to make a Goatse comment right now.
Anyway, I am glad that Microsoft is fighting against beige box syndrome. Computer makers seem to think that painting their 'puters black instead of off-white is what consumers want. I disagree. The important thing is that all designs are durable. My wonderful Sony Clie NX-73V failed because of a broken power switch. I would be ever angrier if that happened to my prettified computer.
Regardless of accuracy, there is value in this ranking. Although the specific rankings do not mean very much, this gives a general impression of what the most popular games really are. I agree that there are many confounding variables (ex: can a game be played multiplayer with only one player?), but take this as a whole.
The real question is this: are you happy with what you have? DVDs suit me better than VHS because they do not degrade and I can skip through them instead of having to fast and rewind. What do these new technologies bring to the table? Better image quality. Honestly I am perfectly happy with DVD quality, therefore I will be saving my money for something better.
Slashdot Mirror
There is one question that interests me about electronic voting systems. How many years are they designed to last? These things tend to be stored in basements and the like during the off season where there is high humidity and poor HVAC control.
But what if the machine electronically records an incorrect vote and prints the wrong answer on paper?
Agreed. If I wanted "BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING!" scaremongering, I would read The Nation.
DISCLAIMER: Nothing in this post is designed to constitute medical advice, as the author is not a physician. If faced with a life or limb trauma situation, please consult your doctor before begining tourniquet treatment.
Do you have any links of evidence of this happening recently? I honestly think that this process is too high risk for most politicians, even the most corrupt. The only time I could imagine this happening is in local dog catcher elections where no one pays any attention to begin with.
From TFA I get the feeling that Microsoft agrees with you. They are trying to make alternatives to beige boxes that do not look like crap. It will be interesting to see where this goes.
Then build more! I bet that if a senior engineering class at Purdue (not even MIT) put their minds to the task they could build a mechanical voting machine that would not create the same level of controversy as Diebold's machines. There are not enough parts because people are not building them. Compared to the cost of computerization, building spare levers and new machines is dirt cheap.
Dad?!?
Instead of rebuilding the wheel, why not use mechanical systems? Really, no one has been able to come up with any valid reasons why levers should not be used! The areas that are installing these computerized systems are rarely those that use levers. Why? Because levers just plain work. I think there is a benefit to using a system that can be understood with an associates in engineering rather than requiring that "the redesign process begins again" every single time there is an error.
Again I tell you, levers work the best. Mechanical voting machines are more efficient than human read paper ballots, more accountable than computers, never ever have hanging chads, and have been successfully used for almost 90 years!
What if they register Republican votes as Democratic votes on the paper trail? What good does it do then?
Again I say to the teeming masses of Slashdot: lever machines are the answer! They have been proven for almost 90 years! I know that many of us /.ers want a computer chip of some kind running Linux in absolutely everything, we need to learn that electronic is not always better.
Winner or not, I'm just going to wait until prices fall. Once I can get an HD-DVD player as cheaply as I can get a DVD player today ($30 at Sam's Club) I do not plan to make the change. Since I don't know what I'm missing, I am still happy with basic cable and a several year old TV.
I wonder what her boyfriend thinks...
I, for one, welcome our tin foil hat wearing, bubble city dwelling /. subscribing overlords!
But Magic (as TFA talks about) is different. You actually get to use your cards on a regular basis. That is the key difference between this type of collection and others.
You bring up a good point. As a college student without a TV in his dorm, the vast majority of my DVD watching is on good 'ole lappy. Even if my computer had the required drive, would I notice a difference?
Yes, but again, do I need that? I enjoy my older 32" Sony with two tuner PIP. I would rather spend my money actually going to the events (sports, concerts, etc.) than buying a nicer TV on which to watch them. I know that things like Discovery HD offer worlds that I will never be able to experience firsthand, but I am still happy with my arrangement.
Actually the advirtising and review departments are entirely seperate in magazines. A few years back, Maximum PC declared an Iomega product the "wrost of the year" while there was also a full page color ad for that product in that issue. Even when I disagree with the rating, magazines justify their rankings and apply impartial standards when possible.
Even with DRM, DVDs are a lot easier to share digitally than VHS!
You are largely correct. The Department of Transportation protocols for EMTs were formed after the success of MASH units and field medics in the Korean War. As far as car accidents are concernec, I have worse news for the elite "I hate the military" types: most vehicle extrication practices come from NASCAR.
You know that I'm fighting the urge to make a Goatse comment right now.
Anyway, I am glad that Microsoft is fighting against beige box syndrome. Computer makers seem to think that painting their 'puters black instead of off-white is what consumers want. I disagree. The important thing is that all designs are durable. My wonderful Sony Clie NX-73V failed because of a broken power switch. I would be ever angrier if that happened to my prettified computer.
And I wasn't even using my "from on high" voice! About your sig: what are the first most important things?
Regardless of accuracy, there is value in this ranking. Although the specific rankings do not mean very much, this gives a general impression of what the most popular games really are. I agree that there are many confounding variables (ex: can a game be played multiplayer with only one player?), but take this as a whole.
The real question is this: are you happy with what you have? DVDs suit me better than VHS because they do not degrade and I can skip through them instead of having to fast and rewind. What do these new technologies bring to the table? Better image quality. Honestly I am perfectly happy with DVD quality, therefore I will be saving my money for something better.